Solo split stay, and fave hotel for adults w/o kids

[dreamseeker9]

I'm playing around with ideas for late September/early October 2014. I'm planning to visit WDW for my birthday. My friends expressed some interest but haven't committed yet, so I may be solo for at least part of my 7-day stay.

I have never stayed in a deluxe resort and would love to try the BC, especially since it should be the start of the Food & Wine Festival, so I could walk to it from the BC. But I can't afford 6 nights there, so I'm thinking of starting at a value resort for 3 nights, then BC for 3 nights.

Would you do a split stay if you were going solo?

Also, what are your favorite hotels for adults with no kids? My friends and I stayed last year in a Finding Nemo suite at AoA and loved it. I also really love POFQ.

 

[ZehnJahren]

I'm playing around with ideas for late September/early October 2014. I'm planning to visit WDW for my birthday. My friends expressed some interest but haven't committed yet, so I may be solo for at least part of my 7-day stay.

I have never stayed in a deluxe resort and would love to try the BC, especially since it should be the start of the Food & Wine Festival, so I could walk to it from the BC. But I can't afford 6 nights there, so I'm thinking of starting at a value resort for 3 nights, then BC for 3 nights.

Would you do a split stay if you were going solo?

Also, what are your favorite hotels for adults with no kids? My friends and I stayed last year in a Finding Nemo suite at AoA and loved it. I also really love POFQ.

Absolutely I would! And have! I switched from YC with my Mom to OKW when she left (and we started the trip at ASSp). I've also switched from Pop to CR. I love split stays, especially in the case you mentioned above; I'd just make sure to do two things if I were you: 1) stay at the Value first!! 2) plan your Epcot and HS days for the days you'll be at BC.

For adults with no kids (me), I like AKL, YC, BWV (staying there for the first time next month!), POFQ, and OKW.

Consider renting points; you can get great deals if you solidify your dates and book early. For example, Sep, 28, 2014 - Oct, 5, 2014 (Sunday to Sunday, 7 nights) would cost you $1092 to stay in a studio at BWV vs renting a room at BWI through Disney (around $3000) - AKL is less than $1k to rent points for that time frame. I actually stayed in a studio at AKL for very cheap on my last solo trip by renting points and ended up in a savannah room! Still don't know if I was upgraded by the person I rented from or upgraded through the resort!!!

 

[dreamseeker9]

Thanks for the reply. I'd definitely stay value first, even though that would be over my birthday, but it would be on the weekend and even cheaper. I can't believe some deluxe resorts charge up to $100 more a night on weekends, based on figures I saw today on Disney's site. Crazy!

Consider renting points; you can get great deals if you solidify your dates and book early. For example, Sep, 28, 2014 - Oct, 5, 2014 (Sunday to Sunday, 7 nights) would cost you $1092 to stay in a studio at BWV vs renting a room at BWI through Disney (around $3000) - AKL is less than $1k to rent points for that time frame. I actually stayed in a studio at AKL for very cheap on my last solo trip by renting points and ended up in a savannah room! Still don't know if I was upgraded by the person I rented from or upgraded through the resort!!!

I actually was considering this option, and even considering doing a split with renting points. It's definitely a huge savings to rent points. My 2 concerns were that I can't cancel once I commit (God forbid I have to cancel, but you never know what might come up), and that every broker or DVC member seemed to need to know the names of everyone in my party at the time of rental, and I have no idea yet who's going to show up and when. I'm pretty confident that a few friends will come, but probably not for the entire 7 days. Does it matter if I rent points with just my name on the reservation, and then add more names later? But I don't think I can add the names, it has to be the broker or DVC member, is that right?

 

[bakerworld]

Another venue to consider is the Dophin or Swan - we went 9/26 - 10/2 via SWVacations. We stayed at the Dolphin. Southwest Vacations partnered up with the Starwood Sunsational pkg and we stayed 6N for the cost of 5N, received a $100 room credit w/ an upgrade, $100 of the pkg cost and had the advantage of the extra park hours. We loved it - location / price / F&W. We did the same thing last year October into November.

 

[ZehnJahren]

I actually was considering this option, and even considering doing a split with renting points. It's definitely a huge savings to rent points. My 2 concerns were that I can't cancel once I commit (God forbid I have to cancel, but you never know what might come up), and that every broker or DVC member seemed to need to know the names of everyone in my party at the time of rental, and I have no idea yet who's going to show up and when. I'm pretty confident that a few friends will come, but probably not for the entire 7 days. Does it matter if I rent points with just my name on the reservation, and then add more names later? But I don't think I can add the names, it has to be the broker or DVC member, is that right?

It's true you can't cancel. That's why the dates have to be firm! You may be able to get travel insurance in case of a real emergency and that way you could have your cost refunded - but it would have to fall under the travel insurance guidelines. I only rent points when I'm sure.

You could always talk to whoever you rent points from and ask them if you can add people on. As long as you're not going over the # of people in the room, it shouldn't be a big problem - but I wouldn't ask them to add someone, then add someone else, then remove someone, then add someone....

 

[dreamseeker9]

bakersworld, thank you - I will check out the Swan and Dolphin and see if they have any special deals.

ZehnJahren, I'm reading your PTR right now and will post over there - loving it! Good for you for upgrading to BWV! As far as my dates being solid, I did get my boss to sign off on the dates I want, so I could go ahead and rent DVC points. But I'm thinking that instead, I may reserve rooms through Disney - split between POR and BC. And then as it gets closer, I'll definitely know who is going with me, and I could then switch to renting DVC points, though availability won't be as high. Still, I have a 12-day window that I'm playing with right now, so my dates aren't entirely set. Decisions, decisions!

 

[ZehnJahren]

ZehnJahren, I'm reading your PTR right now and will post over there - loving it! Good for you for upgrading to BWV! As far as my dates being solid, I did get my boss to sign off on the dates I want, so I could go ahead and rent DVC points. But I'm thinking that instead, I may reserve rooms through Disney - split between POR and BC. And then as it gets closer, I'll definitely know who is going with me, and I could then switch to renting DVC points, though availability won't be as high. Still, I have a 12-day window that I'm playing with right now, so my dates aren't entirely set. Decisions, decisions!

Thanks for coming over! I'm getting excited about my trip now; 15 days to go!

I have definitely run into problems with renting DVC close to my trips. This trip was the hardest to get points for, as they only had one or two days in a studio available unless I wanted to stay at SSR or OKW (I didn't specifically want to stay there). If I hadn't gotten really excessive pixie dust by someone I now refer to as my Disney angel, I would still be at Pop. I have stayed at OKW and I really liked it, but I had a car so it was easier than taking all those internal buses.

You just have to be careful. I'd say in that time frame, you won't be able to get half your days in a row (much less all of them) at one of the DVC resorts unless you're renting at least 7 months in advance. That still gives you some time!

 

[dreamseeker9]

I have definitely run into problems with renting DVC close to my trips. This trip was the hardest to get points for, as they only had one or two days in a studio available unless I wanted to stay at SSR or OKW (I didn't specifically want to stay there). If I hadn't gotten really excessive pixie dust by someone I now refer to as my Disney angel, I would still be at Pop. I have stayed at OKW and I really liked it, but I had a car so it was easier than taking all those internal buses.

You just have to be careful. I'd say in that time frame, you won't be able to get half your days in a row (much less all of them) at one of the DVC resorts unless you're renting at least 7 months in advance. That still gives you some time!

OK, that's what I thought, especially if I want BCV or BWV to be close to EPCOT for the F&WF - I'm sure a lot of others want that as well! But yes, 7 months out should be plenty of time. And if it's not, I'll make sure I have a reservation through Disney at least. Thanks!

 

[LSchrow]

OK, that's what I thought, especially if I want BCV or BWV to be close to EPCOT for the F&WF - I'm sure a lot of others want that as well! But yes, 7 months out should be plenty of time. And if it's not, I'll make sure I have a reservation through Disney at least. Thanks!

BCV/BWV at 7 months, for the F&WF, will likely be tough to get.
i would definitely consider booking the swolphin, and cancelling if the other comes hru.
btw, i recommend the BWI/BWV or YC for adults & older kids...the BCV/BC is pretty but significantly busier/noisier - great for little ones.